1. Do you have Sheet Music available?

I get this question asked a lot. To answer, yes. But not all of it is downloadable quite yet. All of the music from The Lullaby Album is available, and 9 songs from Key of Sea are available (more to come soon).

As for the music from my first album, Key of Sea, I'm posting those as I get them finished. To explain my process, when I write music I handwrite most everything onto manuscript paper. Right now, I am manually entering all of my music into a notation program called Finale. It is time consuming because sometimes I abbreviate my notation when I am composing, or don't finish but ad-lib during the recording process, or don't write it down at all. So I have to go back and listen to my pieces by ear (from the recording) and write it down...which is a lengthy process.

I am also a wife and mom, and projects like notation sometimes take a back seat.

Right now you can find "A Beautiful Storm", "The Red Aspens", "Will's Song", "Pure", and "Suite Dreams", "Release", "Prelude in F", and "You By My Side", and "Somewhere" for sale on my Sheet Music page. The next ones I'm transcribing are "Old Movie Romance", and "Sospiro".

Please visit my the Sheet Music page for more info. As well as selling the songs individually, I also have put together some discount packages.

2. Can you send me an autographed picture?

In the past, I did this. And for free. However, it really started to add up by the time you take the photo printing, packaging, and mailing into consideration. I'm just an independent artist and do not have the big financial support of a record label. So to answer, no I do not do this anymore. However, if you absolutely must have one, email me and I can send you an address of where to send a personal check to cover my costs to send an autographed photo.

3. What inspires you to write music? Or, what is your composition process?

I am a pretty slow composer. There have only been a rare few instances when a song came to me like a flood and I just couldn't write it down fast enough. But usually, it is a lengthy process.

Inspiration comes to me in a few different ways. One way, is that I'm a very visual person. When I dream or brainstorm, I often think in colors or images. For example, if I think of a beach I will think of what color the sky is, what color the water is, is it day or night? Are there people on the beach, what is the mood, what are the sounds that I hear? Those types of visual/mental images get me to a place where I start to hear the "sountrack" for that image.

Another form of inspiration for me is simply listening to music. I always get ideas when I listen to Classical radio, or go to a concert, or what not. My song "Romance Theme" came to me after seeing a youtube video of a short film where the music was recorded backwards. I thought it was a genius idea and the beginning of that piece I recorded a few measures and then reversed it.

Lastly, feelings. I am greatly inspired by the little moments I experience as a wife and a mother. A warm embrace from my husband, or watching my baby boy learn new things or view the world. Or watching him sleep. These are all great sources of musical inspiration.

4. Who are some of your favorite composers or artists?

My favorite Classical artist is concert violinist Hilary Hahn. Out of all the fabulous violinists out there, I really prefer her style the most. And I like her personality - she is very down to earth. I love reading her journal from her website.

I also love the music of Paul Schwartz, Josh Groban, and Hailey Westenra. I really love so many different types of music it is hard to only say a few. But the ones I have mentioned are who I prefer to listen to when I want to sit down and listen to music.

I love film music, so composers like Hans Zimmer, John Williams, etc. catch my ear. And of course the Classics like Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Satie, etc. will always have a place in my heart.

5. What is your goal with your music?

To be perfectly honest, I don't care about becoming famous. I've never sought to be signed to a record label, or to be a household name. All that I truly want is for my music to be found talented. There are plenty of talent-LESS artists out there who are household names. I would prefer to be considered talented and remain a normal human being. I just want to create music to my greatest capacity and for others to think "Gee that really is great music" too.

On my musical bucket list though, I would have to say that I would love to someday record a film score on a live sound stage with a full symphony orchestra. That would be exciting.

6. Are you ever going to put out a Christmas Album?

Here is an update to this question, as of 1/04/2011. Yes, I plan to do a Christmas album. I just decided over the holidays. But I won't be doing it until after Illumination comes out first. I'm not even going to estimate a time/date for a Christmas album yet. But just know that yes I plan to do one.

7. Where can I listen to you live in concert?

I haven't put on any "official" concerts in a few years because I have been busy being a new mother (I have had 2 babies in 3 years - with the youngest born August of 2010). As I am writing this now (June 2011), I am planning to start doing some concerts again. I have one schedule in September 2011 in the Seattle area, and one in Feb or March of 2012 in Salt Lake City, UT. As I get closer to releasing my new album, I will be releasing more concert dates. Please stay tuned.

8. Where can I buy or download the song on your homepage?

The track on my homepage, entitled "Illumination", was recently written for a luxury car commercial project (which is why it is a very short 1 minute song). I have extended the song to a full length piece and plan to include it on my album Illumination, which will be out early 2012. So as of now, the song is not available for sale or download anywhere but simply for your listening pleasure. But thank you for all the interest in it. It was a fun song to write!

8. How can I license your music?

I prefer to be contacted directly regarding this. However, I do have some of my music available on Pump Audio and you do not need to go through me in order to license through them.

Do you have a question? Email Jennifer at jennifer@jenniferthomasmusic.com